Gertens offers professional advice on how to edge your lawn with concrete edging stone or metal edging, two great alternatives to vinyl. The option you choose will be determined by the type of look you are trying to achieve and your budget. Gertens offers Landscape Supplies.
Stop by our Landscape Projects Desk or give us a call at 651-239-1315
Many alternatives to vinyl require starting with a basic trench and then, depending on which option you choose, this trench is further manipulated to accommodate the edging product. The drawings below take you step-by-step through the installation processes.
If you have a lot of edging to install, you may wish to rent a bed edging machine. The cost of the machine rental is well worth the savings in labor to dig the trench. Gertens offers rental equipment.
- The most common is a rectangular box which houses a steel blade.
- One side has a heavy rubber flap through which the soil from the trench is deposited in a pile.
- There is a handle with gears attached.
- Start the machine then elevate the blade prior to engaging.
- While engaged, slowly lower it onto the starting point and pull the machine along the line you have laid out for your edging.
- Be sure you have the machine in the proper orientation so the soil is being deposited on the garden side.
BASIC TRENCH with Mulch
Basic Trench Edger
- This is the basis or beginning step for installation of most types of edging.
- Use a flat bottomed spade to create a “V” trench.
- Place the soil on the garden side.
- Smooth the slope on the garden side and break up any clods of soils, raking them into the garden.
- In this option, the trench is your edge or dividing element.
- Lay down your mulch.
The trench acts to hold it in place and separate it from the grass. You can place the wheel of your mower on the mulch in the trench. This type of edge does periodically need refreshing. Simply rake the mulch out of the trench, use your flat bottomed spade to freshen up the walls of the trench, and rake back the mulch.
This method also works if using small boulders (rip-rap size/2-10 inches) or small boulders (8-10 inches), the only difference is to place boulders slightly above the soil line.
Trench Edge with Rock(s), similar to basic trench, fill in slightly above the mulch line
MODIFIED BASIC TRENCH with Metal Edging
The Modified Trench with Metal Edging requires you to wiggle the shovel to dig
- When installing metal edging (i.e. steel or aluminum), you can’t pound it in, you’ll need to dig a trench.
- Use a flat bottom spade, put it into the soil to the desired depth.
- Create a narrow “V” by rocking the spade back and forth creating a trench that is just wide enough to accommodate the edging.
- The spikes are pounded in vertically rather than horizontal or perpendicular to the vinyl edging.
- Place your edging into the trench to the desired depth, leaving about ¾-1 inch above grade.
- Push the soil back up to the edging.
Photo by Janet
MODIFIED BASIC TRENCH with Paver, Natural or Concrete Edging Stone
- Follow steps 1 and 2 for creating your basic trench
- Widen the bottom to accommodate the edger you are using.
- Dig the trench is deep enough to accommodate the edger and 1 inch of sand for leveling.
- The edging should follow the grade, with each end leveled to the one next to it.
The experts at Gertens are always available to answer your questions!
